Jan. 27, 2007
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Saturday's match between two of the top 40 women's tennis teams in the country lived up to its billing as the No. 31 Tennesse Lady Vols edged the No. 40 Boilermakers 4-3 at the Schwartz Tennis Center.
The loss was Purdue's first dual decision of the season. Tennesse raised their record to the .500 mark at 1-1.
The Boilermakers are still winless in their series with the Lady Vols, but they've been making it close as of late. Purdue has lost to UT by 4-3 margins in two of the last three years; last season, Purdue lost 5-2 at Knoxville.
"This was the type of match I expected," said women's head coach Mat Iandolo. "I felt we were in a good position to win, but they have a legitimate lineup and we just fell short. Overall, I'm very proud of the effort and I know we'll be a better team because of this match."
Purdue began singles competition down a point after surrendering two of three doubles contests. The No. 20 team of Mallory Voelker and Brooke Beier defended their national ranking with an 8-4 win over Connor Vogel and Ghizela Schutte.
The Boilermakers and Lady Vols won three singles matches apiece. Purdue won at 3, 4 and 6 singles - all of which were decided in three sets.
Freshman Neela Vaez rallied from a set down to beat Caitlin Whoriskey, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, as did sophomore Anna Dzeva, who beat 87th-ranked Victoria Jones, 6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-1. In the first set, Dzeva was down 5-0 before rallying back and sending it into a tiebreaker.
Beier was the lone Boilermaker to win both her matches today, holding off Vogel at No. 3 singles, 6-1, 2-6, 6-3.
Purdue's next match is Sunday vs. Butler at the Schwartz Tennis Center. Their match will begin at the conclusion of the men's contest with the Bulldogs, which begins at 1 p.m.
Iandolo expects his team to come out on fire.
"At this point in the season we need to have back-to-back tests, and I think we'll have more than enough energy for Butler," said Iandolo.
Admission for all Purdue home tennis matches is free.
#31 Tennessee 4, #40 Purdue University 3
Singles competition
1. #12 Blakely Griffith (TEN) def. #63 Mallory Voelker (PUR) 6-3, 7-5
2. Ghizela Schutte (TEN) def. Randi Schuler (PUR) 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
3. Brooke Beier (PUR) def. Connor Vogel (TEN) 6-1, 2-6, 6-3
4. Neela Vaez (PUR) def. Caitlin Whoriskey (TEN) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
5. Samantha Orlin (TEN) def. Lauren Shumate (PUR) 4-6, 6-1, 6-3
6. Anna Dzeva (PUR) def. #87 Victoria Jones (TEN) 6-7 (1-7), 6-4, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. #20 Mallory Voelker/Brooke Beier (PUR) def. Connor Vogel/Ghizela Schutte (TEN) 8-4
2. Samantha Orlin/Caitlin Whoriskey (TEN) def. Neela Vaez/Randi Schuler (PUR) 8-5
3. Zsofia Zubor/Blakely Griffith (TEN) def. Cigdem Duru/Lauren Shumate (PUR) 8-3
Match Notes:
Tennessee 1-1; National ranking #31
Purdue University 0-1; National ranking #40
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (1,2,4,5,3,6)
T-4:15 A-43